7/23 Morning Communiqué

The 6th Annual Lebowski Fest was held this past weekend in Louisville, Kentucky, honoring the Coen Brothers' 1998 film. Check out photos from the two-day festival in our gallery section.

Download free MP3s from local artists such as Cloud Cult, the Hopefuls, Ben Harper, M.anifest, the Plastic Constellations, and more at Music To Go.

THESE DAYS

A small genetic mutation in the section of human DNA that codes for immune proteins appears able to reduce the amount of HIV in the body by an average of 90%, new research at Duke University suggests.

In an apparent violation of the law, a controversial aide to presidential candidate Mitt Romney created phony law enforcement badges that he and other staffers used on the campaign trail to strong-arm reporters, avoid paying tolls and trick security guards into giving them immediate access to campaign venues.

MINNESOTA BLOG OF THE DAY

Scooter blogs about lawn jockey sightings, puppets in the shape of giant toes, and eating banana-flavored Play-Doh at A Nod to Nothing.